_JEREMIAH, REPROVING THE DISOBEDIENCE OF THE JEWS TO THE PROPHETS, FORETELLETH THE SEVENTY YEARS CAPTIVITY, AND, AFTER THAT, THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON. UNDER THE TYPE OF A CUP OF WINE, HE FORESHEWETH THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL THE NATIONS. THE HOWLING OF THE SHEPHERDS._ _Before Christ 606._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH— This chapter contains a new discourse, different from that which precedes and follows it. The prophesy that it contains is prior in time to that in the former chapter, and posterior to that in the 26th. At the commencement of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah deno... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM, &C.— _The song of the bridegroom, and the song of the bride; the songs of the mill, and the light of the lamp._ By the _songs of the mill,_ are meant the songs of those female slaves, who in ancient times used to grind at the mill. See Matthew 24:41. The ideas in Revelat... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVENTY YEARS— Not only the captivity and restoration of the two tribes were foretold, but the precise time of that captivity and restoration was also prefixed and determined by our prophet. This prophesy was delivered in the fourth year of Jehoiakim; and this same year it began to be put in executi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MANY NATIONS— _For of them, even of these, shall many nations and great kings exact service; and I will render to them,_ &c. Houbigant renders it, _For powerful people, and mighty kings, shall reduce even those nations to servitude; and so,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THE WINE-CUP, &C.— _Take the cup of the wine of this wrath._ There can be no doubt that what is here related passed in vision, and that Jeremiah relates simply what was represented to his view; which, putting into writing, he sent to the several nations where God ordered him to publish it. See... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE MINGLED PEOPLE— _To all the Abyssenes,_ or people who passed from Arabia into Africa. Houbigant. See Boch. Geog. Sacr. lib. 2. cap. 23. Respecting _Uz,_ see the note on Job 1:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ISLES, &C.— That is to say, _The region about the Mediterranean sea._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MINGLED PEOPLE THAT DWELL IN THE DESERT— _The Scenites_ or _inhabitants of tents, who dwell,_ &c. Houbigant. That is, the mixture of people dwelling in that part of Arabia called the _Desert;_ consisting of Nabathaeans, Amalekites, Midianites, and other nations, called in Scripture by the genera... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING OF SHESHACH SHALL DRINK, &C.— By _Sheshach_ is meant Babylon, as appears from chap. Jeremiah 51:41. Houbigant renders it, _And king Sheshach,_ &c. whereby, says he, Nebuchadnezzar himself is meant, who is spoken of under the name of _Sheshach,_ a king who reigned formerly in Babylon, an... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEY REFUSE TO TAKE THE CUP— "If they either do not believe thy threatenings, or disregard them, because they think themselves sufficiently provided against any hostile invasion, thou shalt let them know that the judgments denounced are irreversible.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL ROAR FROM ON HIGH— The metaphor in the first part of the verse is taken from a _lion_ roaring over his prey, (see Jeremiah 25:38.) and in the latter from the triumphant shouts of the treaders of the grapes. The meaning is, that he should pronounce and execute a terrible judgment upon... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWL, YE SHEPHERDS— See Jeremiah 25:30. By _shepherds,_ as before, are meant the _princes_ and _chief men;_ and, pursuing the same metaphor, the _principal of the flock,_ signify the great and wealthy men of this nation, against whom these judgments are denounced. By a _pleasant_ or _precious vessel... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH FORSAKEN HIS COVERT, &C.— For who would have dared to approach it, if he had thought good to protect it? if Jerusalem, if the temple, if Judaea, are delivered into the hand of the Chaldeans, it is because He who guarded and protected them hath forsaken and abandoned them. REFLECTIONS.—1st,... [ Continue Reading ]